Over the past sixteen months I have received three rate increases from my local cable provider. Almost $30 increase over that time frame. What's ironic is that I had to sign a two year agreement to get the initial rate that I did with them. That ended this past October. So in effect, I couldn't leave them for two years without penalty but they could increase my rates in that two year time frame as they saw fit. I'm pretty fed up, but I don't want to act too rash. I've started to inquire about rates and plans from the two big dish services. My concern is I don't have any experience with them and don't know if they're any better than my current provider. Does anybody have any experience, good or bad, with Direct TV or Dish? Are they just another wolf in different sheep's clothing. Are there any other viable alternatives out there that won't require one to be locked in due to physical location? If it wasn't for my wife, I would cancel it altogether and just keep our internet connection.